Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-04-15
HAD HE A HEART /?
''Tm tired now, and sleepy too,
Comm Law me i'm my little bed
BY A. d. BAILIE.

here I'd comb your little heau LOT
you with three-legged stool, l
would, You rascal. Two o'clock in
the morning, packing not half done,
and your precious wife with her
back broke
Thus groaned sleepy, tired little
Henrietta Moore (nee Henrietta
Miles,, professionally known as
Mile. Henrietta MillesturOli, late OF
the - Theatre.
A little over seventeen years OF
age, slight but perfect in form, with
pure, fresh complexion, blooming
cheeks, clear, blue eyes, aud move
ments Of free, uudulating grace and
flowing ease, with irregular features
aud changetul expression, which
would have delighted an artist and
driven a photographer to despair,
she was a sprightly little beauty to
gladden. the ey es of those who loved
q good, pretty face.
The room in which she waited
for her husband was by no means
tidy. Two half-packed trunks stood
open; upon the bed and floor
dresses and coats, shirts and skirts,
lay scattered in confusion.
William Moore, Just of age, in
chued to be fast, good-loOking,
soft of heart and head, until lately
a bOOkkeeper in a commission
house, had a week before married
this child of the theatre for love
thereby pleasing himself, gaining
his idol, and losing the friendship
Of his highly respectable relations
and his situation-for which he
cared little. The young couple
were to start on the morrow in the
MONDAY train for Chicago, where
William was to invest the $1,000
just paid into the bank subject to
his order, his portion of bis fathers
estate, with an established firm in
whose house he was also to FIJI the
OSition of bookkeeper.
He bad gone out early in the
evening to have a farewell supper
with some friends. 1t was . o'clock,
a. H., and he had not yet returned.
Henny (she was always called
Kenny gaped again, and then seiz-
ing a pretty little gray travelling
bonnet Just new from the bed, she
went through, Tor the twentieth
time, with the "trying-on' process.
She heard the front door shut aud
listened; the step upon the stairs
was slow and dragging.
"'Tain't Willie," she sighed, and
turned again to the mirror.
The door of the room was thrown
open.
"Why, Williew
1t was her husband. lie entered
the room in silence, his dress dis.
ordered, his face pale, and his
hands trembling. He sank into a
chair and looked at her in despair
ing sadness. He had been drink
ing, but was nearly sober now
The wife began:
"Will, you're real mean to go and
leave me all night by myself and go
get tight, and all the packing to
10 do yet it's shabby Of you, so it
Is"
"All right, Henry. Pitch into
me, Go ahead But you needn't
PACK any more. We can't go"
"Needn't pack any more Can't
go - she echoed, with surprise.
"Why not?'
"Cause Pm dead broke f.; lost
every rap. There. now it's out y
he said, dashing his hat on the floor.
She turned on him fiercely;
civilian Moore, do you mean to
tell me, after all you promised me,
that you've BEEN" and a look fin.
ished the question.
"Pitch into me-pitch in, Hen
N.Y. he groaned 81 started for on
~ one game after supper, and kept
on and on, and-now it's all gone,
every rap" and, poor, weak sinner,
the tears began to fill his eyes,
"Will Moore, you're a" CON-
menced the wife; but, looking at
him, the big, gOOd.lOoking boy of
husband that she loved so well, the
harsh words died upon her lips, and
she went and sat upon his knee and
cOddied him, saying:
"Oh, Willie, Pm so sorry. l had
hoped so much-so much-and now
IT'S all OVER" and she gave deep,
sobbing sigh. "Is it all gone, Will
liel Who was it ~ she asked, after
q time.
"Cleaned out every cent" he
answered. CATER supper I'd been
drinking some, and Chick LawtOn
proposed a game-and l didn'tthink
OF what I'd promised yOu-and l
didn't lose much ; I'd have won
every cent back, sure, only old ID.
d. came in, and he roped in and
took a hand and he's got my check
for every cent We have in the world.
Oh, Kenny, l don't care for myself;
it's you Pm thinking CT, and that
makes me nearly crazy"
"You ought to have thought of
me before it was too late, Willie"
II know, Henry; but 1t was on.
ly a little game with Chick. He
wouldn't have taken it all from me
like old d. d., when he saw was
tioht. Chicks a GOOD fellow-ey.